Detroit Pistons' Charlie Villanueva is a 'realist' when amnesty, trade possibilities are raised

AP File PhotoDetroit Pistons' Charlie Villanueva can stretch the floor and cause enormous problems for opposing power forwards, but had little chance to do so this season.

AUBURN HILLS – Charlie
Villanueva knows the Detroit Pistons will make moves. His status on
the team couldn't have been much clearer as the season progressed –
healthy or not, head coach Lawrence Frank wasn't going to play
Villanueva until playoff contention officially expired and the
Pistons were looking at different combinations to see who will move
forward with them.

If the Pistons make a move in free
agency, Villanueva is one of the leading amnesty-clause candidates to
free salary-cap space. He is scheduled to make just more than $8
million next year, with a player option for another $8.5 million the
following season.

Through one-time use of amnesty,
the Pistons could release Villanueva and pay his contract for next
year, minus any money he might receive by signing with another team,
without that money being applied to their salary cap.

“I
would like to stay here,” Villanueva
said. “I love it here,I love it here. At the
same time, I'm a realist.”

Asked what
that means, Villanueva replied, “Exactly like I just said, I'm a
realist. I don't know. See what happens.”

Ben Gordon
erupted for 26 points and eight 3-pointers in Thursday's finale, a
108-86 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. But Gordon also could be an
amnesty candidate if the Pistons need to clear big money quickly. He
will make more than $12 million next year, with a player option for
$13 million-plus the following season.

“Anything's
possible, anything's possible,” said Gordon, whose next stop is to
play for England's host team in the London Olympics. “That's
always in the back of your mind. But until you're told something,
until you hear something, you just always assume you'll be here.”

Gordon
moved from a starting role to the bench early in the season. But at
least he played.

Villanueva
returned from an ankle injury in early March but did not play in 15
of his first 17 games back.

In the
final nine games, Villanueva played from 18-23 minutes in seven of
them. In those seven games, he average 10.5 points and shot 37.1
percent on 3-pointers.

Owner Tom
Gores said Thursday that he doesn't know if he would pay a player to
play for someone else, saying he would leave that decision to his
basketball brass.

But Gores
also said changes have to be made, and if that means free agency, the
Pistons don't have cap space without dumping a contract.

Villanueva
said he would focus on staying healthy and that he wouldn't “worry
about things I can't control – whatever happens, happens.”

“I
haven't really put too much mind into it,” he added. “The
season's over. Just gotta take a long vacation and, when the time is
right, we'll discuss it.”